School visits reveal diversity

I have had a busy few days visiting schools in London and beyond. Monday saw me travelling to Sussex, to visit the primary school Haven, which is officially a voluntary-aided primary school, one of about ten categories of school in the UK. It is a CofE school with a strong Christian ethic.

Forget government and non-government...all schools receive government funding except those that are strictly private..there are different governance arrangements and freedoms from government control and even the natioanl curriculum is flexible in delivery outside very minimum requirements.  My second school to visit was King Solomon Academy, a new school in the academy program,  with additional funding to reopen a closed school, offering an extended school day to a 'deprived community' and innovating in all areas of delivery, including offering Singapore's maths curriculum, challenging in year 2 as I saw demonstrated in the classroom. Classes are conducted in near silence!!! Student progress impressive and everything documented and analysed in the 11 hour day put in by all teachers and the principal!! How could this work in  Aus I think to myself??  The next school was more familiar, a large comprehensive with impressive VET provision and new facilities paid for by government ...but all students are wearing blazers even in class!!! Even while jamming on a drum kit!!! A government priority not one of the current head teacher, he assured me. Quoting John Hattie, who wrote the bible on school characteristics for quality schooling, again his words, no mention of uniform in there...lots more to record on the use of progress measures at student and class level and a performance appraisal system for teachers that makes your head spin...